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realme C33 review: 50MP camera phone on a budget

The realme C33 is the latest budget phone from realme. Unlike most other entry-level smartphones, the C33 boasts a 50MP primary camera, along with a Unisoc T612 chipset and 5000mAh battery.

Priced at Php 7,499, is the realme C33 the right budget phone for you? Let’s find out.

realme C33 specs

  • Display: 6.5-inch HD+ Display, 1600×720
  • Processor: Unisoc T612, 12nm
  • RAM/Storage: 4GB+64GB
  • Rear Camera: 50MP Main + 0.3MP Depth
  • Front Camera: 5MP
  • Network: 4G, LTE
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, GPS
  • Others: Side Fingerprint Scanner, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Micro USB, Dirac 3.0
  • OS: realme UI S Edition, Android 12
  • Battery: 5000mAh, 10W Fast Charging

Design & Display

The realme C33 features what realme called “boundless sea design.” I don’t personally get the connection to how it looks, but it is aesthetically pleasing. The back panel has a glittery design and elements of “beams of light” reflections that change as you move the device.

realme C33 review
realme C33 review

The phone has a plastic construction with flat sides and curved corners. It has a good, solid build, measuring 164.2 x 75.7 x 8.3mm with a weight of 187g.

The display measures 6.5-inches across with an 1600×720 resolution and smooth waterdrop notch housing the 5MP front shooter. The screen is bright and colorful with good sharpness despite being only HD.

realme C33 review

At the back, you have dual cameras. They’re not sitting on a camera island, but the two lenses are raised from the panel, giving it a significant camera hump.

The triple-slot SIM tray is on the left side, while the volume rocker and power button/fingerprint scanner are on the right. And at the bottom, we have the earphone jack, microphone, micro USB port, and mono speaker.

Cameras

The realme C33 is equipped with a 50MP primary camera with a 0.3MP depth sensor. For selfies, it has a 5MP shooter in front.

realme C33 review

In daylight, images look good with pleasant colors and good exposure. The details are good with decent sharpness. In low light, some noise starts to creep in, but the colors and details are still acceptable. Meanwhile, night mode offers good colors and some detail, but there is a lot of noise.

Selfies, on the other hand, are average. It’s about what you could expect for a phone in this price range. Dynamic range is limited and sharpness is soft.

Check out the sample images below.

Performance

The realme C33 is powered by a Unisoc T612, a 12nm chip with two fast ARM Cortex A75 cores with clock speeds of up to 1.8 GHz and six power-efficient ARM Cortex A55 cores. It also has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage and runs on realme UI S Edition, a simpler and almost stock version of their UI based on Android 12.

As a daily driver, the realme C33 feels snappy and responsive. You do get some minor stutter from time to time, but it’s nothing too worrying. In fact, you might not even notice it unless you’re doing something taxing.

realme C33 review

Most commonly used apps open fast and run without issue. In gaming, you can get decent performance in modest or low settings.

The mono speaker is loud and not as tinny as others in the same price range. Don’t expect any bass or midbass though. Otherwise, it’s enough for the occasional YouTube video or voice call on speaker.

See also: Canalys, IDC reports confirm realme’s status as top smartphone brand in PH Q2 2022

As for the battery life, the 5000mAh capacity is good for one whole day of usage, no doubt the HD display and 12nm processor helped. Charging using the included 10W charger takes around 3 hours.

Final Thoughts

The realme C33 is a good option for those with a limited budget looking for a decent smartphone. For Php 7,499, you’ll get a handset with a beautiful design, a large display, a 50MP primary camera, and good battery life.

It’s hard to find faults in a phone under 7.5k, but one glaring omission is the removal of the case from the realme C33’s retail package. It’s disappointing, but that’s the trade-off to get the 50MP sensor at a certain price point.

Price and Availability

The realme C33 is priced at Php 7,499 and is now available in the Philippines. You can check out realme’s official TikTok Shop for more details.

Bryan is a geek at heart and a tech enthusiast by choice. He has a strong background in corporate communications, marketing services, and customer relations having worked in the telecommunications and banking sectors for over two decades. In his spare time, he enjoys watching clips on YouTube and binge watching shows on Netflix.

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